How to Be an Online Supastah!
Austinites work the Web
By Belinda Acosta, Fri., Dec. 19, 2008
2) Have a camera, and know how to use it. If you don't have a camera or know how to use it, make friends with someone who does. Be nice to them.
3) Understand how the online world works. If you don't have these skills, make friends with someone who does. Be nice to them.
4) Be absolutely, positively devoted to your project. Believe in the "If I post it, they will click" theory.
5) Learn the art of self-promotion. Recognize that self-promotion is an art.
6) Be patient. Be patient some more.
7) Have faith.
8) Be lucky, or, to paraphrase media maven Oprah Winfrey, be prepared (see items 1-5) so that when luck shines on you, you can deliver and move to the next level.
Follow all these rules, and the online Supastah Fairy will reward you with ... well, what exactly?
Defining an online success depends on expectations. Is it getting wide national attention or a loyal niche audience? Is it having a little fun or being able to quit your day job? Calling an online project a success depends on the reason for creating an online presence in the first place.
Being the media-arts-rich community that it is, Austin has its own constellation of online stars, some of them seasoned, some of them brand new. Here are a few of them:
DadLabs.com. Subtitled "taking back paternity," this multithemed series looks at fatherhood from a variety of useful and often humorous perspectives. Co-host Clay Nichols (aka Daddy Clay) recently shared that DadLabs just signed a six-figure, six-month sponsorship deal with Baby Bjorn. Besides getting some financial support to grow their library of 325 episodes, the Baby Bjorn deal will allow them to break even as of Jan. 1. At just under 3.5 million video views, "DadLabs is hardly a YouTube phenomenon," Nichols says. "But we have a devoted and focused audience of active parents." And yet, you don't have to have a kid (or even like them) to enjoy this engaging series. The episode with Daddy Owen wearing a pregnancy suit to simulate what it's like for a woman to be pregnant is a must-see.
Spill.com. Remember those guys who brought you The Reel Deal on cable access TV? Well, they migrated online some time ago to offer their irreverent, guy-centric film reviews. (See "Animated Opinions," March 21.) The beauty of this gig is that their likenesses are animated (thanks to cartoonist and co-host Korey Coleman). A viewer appreciation party earlier in the year brought out fans from across Texas, as well as one fan who flew in from the East Coast.
The SniperTwins (formerly known as NothingLiquid) shorts on YouTube. No information, no how-to, just plain, well-executed entertainment. Many of their shorts are best described as music videos with a geek slant ("You Rock My World," "Computer Friends"). Others are extended sketches, as in "Can Suck 2000." Anyone who's seen those TV commercials selling a marginally useful gadget as if life without it was like the world without fire will guffaw at this clever short. Check out other SniperTwins stuff at www.youtube.com/profile?user=NothingLiquid&view=videos.
SaucidoSlant on Indieoma.com and YouTube. Former ME Television VJ Paul Saucido hasn't let the local channel's recent meltdown slow him down. He offers his Latino-centric view of arts and culture in a daily, one-on-one featuring reviews, occasional interviews, and a whole lot of good-natured attitude from what appears to be a corner of his very crowded bedroom (books, CDs, and posters look as if they are about to fall on top of him). SaucidoSlant is relatively new, but it's only a matter of time before ME TV fans needing their Saucido fix will find him.
"The Aviatrix." Filmmaker (and former Chronicle contributor) Toddy Burton's MFA thesis film rose to No. 3 in the YouTube hits list last month, and according to the YouTube stats page, went to No. 1 in Australia. The 10-minute short incorporates sci-fi fantasy – overcoming an even larger challenge than other films, as it has to pull off some superhero stunts on a very small budget without looking too silly. It mostly works. Some familiar Austin actors give it a definite boost. Check it out at www.theaviatrix.com.
